Potatoes Won't Wait: How to Dig Up Your Harvest Without Back Pain and Store It for the Whole Winter

      The end of summer is truly potato season.

      That moment when the morning chill already seriously hints at the approaching autumn, and the foliage in the beds has fallen over and looks like guards tired after a shift. That means it's time to pick up the forks. But how to do it smartly so that both the crop remains intact and your back doesn't give out — that's a million-dollar question.

      First of all, look at the potatoes themselves. The surest sign is that the foliage has collapsed and begun to wither. The plant is signaling: that's it, the mission is accomplished, all the juices are already in the tubers. Don't be lazy — dig up a couple of plants to check. Rub a potato with your finger. If the skin slips off easily, like a glove, it's too early; let it stay in the ground for another week. If the skin is firm and tough — that's it, the time has come. Ideally, the weather should be dry and sunny — it's easier to dig, and the potatoes will be clean and ready for storage.

      Tool choice is a matter of principle. Experienced gardeners more often choose forks, and for good reason. They cut and bruise the tubers less and pass between the potatoes, touching only the unlucky ones. A spade, of course, is more reliable on heavy clay soil, but then be prepared for precision work. Dig more carefully, standing back 15–20 cm from the plant so you don't accidentally slice through a whole nest.

      The most important thing is not to injure yourself. No rushing or heroics. Remember: your back should stay straight. Don't bend over like Buratino reaching for an apple — better to squat, with your knees slightly bent. Once you've driven in the forks, lift the slice of earth using your legs, not your back. After working for about 15 minutes — straighten up, stretch, look around. And don't haul a full bucket across the whole garden — better to make several trips with half a load than one with a wrecked back. And yes, gloves are not just for show. They will save you from blisters and keep the tool from slipping in your hands.

      But digging up the potatoes is not the finish. To keep them until spring, they need proper preparation. Immediately set aside cut or damaged tubers — we'll eat those first. Select seed potatoes — smooth ones about the size of an egg. Small potatoes — either for soup or for livestock. And under no circumstances carry all this bounty straight to the cellar in sacks! Spread the potatoes in a single layer somewhere under a shelter or right on the bed if no rain is forecast. Let them dry for a couple of hours. Then comes the most important stage: send them into "quarantine" for two to three weeks in a cool, dark, and well-ventilated place. A garage, shed, or porch will do. During this time the skins will harden completely, scratches will heal, and the potatoes will be ready for winter hibernation. After that, sort them once more — and only then may you take them down to the cellar.

      And then, on a cold winter evening, you can with a clear conscience fry this gold with some onions or make the lightest mashed potatoes.

      Alexander Isakov

      More news about the event:

      Potatoes won't wait: how to dig up the harvest without back pain and store it for the whole winter

      The end of summer is truly potato season.

      That moment when the morning chill already seriously hints at the approaching autumn, and the foliage in the beds has fallen over and looks like guards tired after a shift. 20:26 28.08.2025 News of Zainsk - Zainsk

      Potatoes won't wait: how to dig up the harvest without back pain and store it for the whole winter

      The end of summer is truly potato season.

      That moment when the morning chill already seriously hints at the approaching autumn, and the foliage in the beds has fallen over and looks like guards tired after a shift. 19:50 28.08.2025 Zainsk-Inform - Zainsk

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